lately i've been feeling a little overwhelmed. somehow my month and a half trip to china has snuck up so quickly, and i don't feel ready! luckily my visa came in the mail today, but i think that's the only thing that qualifies me as being prepared. work has been busy. the numbers of emails being sent and received have been record-breaking...lists are all over my desk...and yet i seem to always feel there is so much more still to do! :) on top of that, normal life has given me lots of things to keep busy doing and thinking over...

i've felt discouraged that i can only be one place at a time (i know, that sounds silly, but it's true! :) i wish i could be home to celebrate milestones in my friends and family's lives like their weddings, graduations, birthdays, and father's day. but i know it'd be too much to take a trip back to the east coast with so much to do here. but God is so faithful, and He's showing me that He has me here for a reason. i could potentially spend my life wondering what i could be accomplishing somewhere else, but then i'd never get anything done right where i am.

i stayed late at work today. i had a conference call with our staff going to nanchang in two weeks (and on the call i somehow managed to drop my phone into my glass of dr.pepper. :) after the call was done, i was tidying up my desk to get ready to call it a day when i suddenly got swept up in going through everything on and around my desk. :)

i ended up reading through some cards from friends i had saved and one in particular struck me. it was a christmas card but it's message was perfect for right now...

it said, " in this crazy season of hustle and bustle, may you find time to reflect on our shining star- the one in whom all our hopes and fears are met. and may this next year be one of even more growth and a focus in who God wants you to be. love, michele"

how encouraging!! please be praying for me that in this busy time i would make time to reflect on my sweet savior!!